Thousands to march against war

TENS of thousands of anti-war supporters are expected to take part in a huge demonstration in Manchester today aimed at protesting over Government policies in the Middle East and against nuclear weapons. The march, supported by trade unions, students, politicians and activists from around the country, takes place on the eve of the Labour Party conference in the city.

TENS of thousands of anti-war supporters are expected to take part in a huge demonstration in Manchester today aimed at protesting over Government policies in the Middle East and against nuclear weapons.

The march, supported by trade unions, students, politicians and activists from around the country, takes place on the eve of the Labour Party conference in the city.

The theme, Time To Go, reflects calls for British troops to leave Iraq and Afghanistan and there will also be speeches against replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system.

Speakers include veteran peace activist Tony Benn, union leaders Tony Woodley of the TGWU and Keith Sonnet of Unison, Rose Gentle of Military Families Against the War and Craig Murray, the former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan.

MAP of the march route.

Message

Kate Hudson, chairwoman of CND, said: "We urge widespread support for this demonstration to send a strong message to the Labour Party conference that people are against nuclear weapons, war and occupation."

Ms Hudson said most of the British public opposed replacing Trident, adding: "But our Government seems hell bent on committing Britain to a new generation of nuclear weapons which will ensure that Britain is a nuclear armed state into the 2050s."

Ms Hudson said the global security context had completely changed since the decision was first taken to build Trident more than 20 years ago.

She warned against "sleepwalking" into a replacement which will cost more than é25 billion.

Yasmin Ataulah of the British Muslim Initiative, which is helping to organise tomorrow's event, said: "The injustice, lawlessness and devastation that the innocent people of Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon suffer are all a consequence of Tony Blair's collusion with the United States and Israel.

"Blair's warmongering has made the world far more dangerous and unstable."

Around 1,250 police will be on duty during the march and rally and senior officers promise to deal "firmly" with any trouble although organisers of the event pointed out that previous demonstrations had always passed off peacefully.